The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-03-11
MR.. BEECHER In HIS COFFIN.
Private Services Held at the Residence
by the Rev. Charles II. Hall,
And the Remains Transferred to Plymouth
Church. Where They Will Lie in State
-20,0e0 People 1iaw the Casket.

New YORK, March l0.-In spite of the raiAI
the streets in the vicinity of Rev. Henry Ward
Beecher's house were crowded with people this
morning AT O'Clock Police Captain Campbell
and SQUAD of twenty police took up their sta
tons in front of the house. A large number Oh
floral emblems were received before the private
services commenced. Two wreaths OF white
roses lilies of the valley and smila1 were re-
ceived by Mrs Colonel Beecher early in the
morning. These bore the cards of Ellen Terry
ard Henry Irving Mrs. S. V. White sent pill
low of white roses.
The coffin rested in the center of the front
parlor aud was surrounded with bank OF fra
grant flowers The sweet perfume per vaded the
air. and on all sides could be seen floral emblems
from the friends and admirers of the dead d.
vine. The remains were dressed in suit of
black broadcloth, with the trock coat buttoned
up aud the right hand laid across the heart The
features natural, and there was a smile
upon the face. The long gray hair was brushed
back over the ears, the same as Mr. Beecher
wore it while alive.
Early in the morning, before the services, Mrs
Beecher went into the parlor and stood by the
coffin for some time She bent over the remains,
end after imprinting kiss upon the cold lips,
was led into the back room.
Promptly at $50 o'clock, Rev. Charles H.
Hall, of the Church of the Holy Trinity, en-
tered tie house. After short conversation
with Major J. B. Pond, he entered the front
parlor and commenced to read the burial service
from the ritual of the Episcopal Church. A
quartet sang Jesus, lover of my soul" ''Be-
yond the signing and the weeping" and "Come.
Holy Spirit" While the services were in prog
ress in the house, Company G., known as Ply
mouth Company, of the Thirteenth Regiment,
was drawn up in front Of the house on Hicks
street They were dressed in the regulation
uniform. Only the members OF the family and
few intimate friends were present during the
services at the house The family were seated
In the back parlor. None of the family were
dressed in black. Mrs Beecher sat near the re-
mains during the reading of the services, and
by her side were her sons and daughter, and
the members of their families. She bore up
wonderfully during the whole of the ceremony
and was quite calm few minutes before the
remains were carried out of the house to the
hearse the rain ceased and clouds passed away,
and the sunshine burst out bright and clear A
ray shone through the front window of the par
Tor, and, before the lid of the casket was
screwed down, rested upon the face of the great
divine, lighting it up and forming halo around
the head.
At the conclusion Of the services at the house.
Rev. Dr. Hall spoke for fifteen minutes. He
was very much affected, and evidently spoke
from his heart. Dr. Hall began by referring to
the beautiful Jewish custom of whispering in
the ear of the dying person the Hebrew sentence
which, wher translated into English, meant
''The Lord .7e ovah is our God," and then de-
scribed how, when the head of the household
died, the beautiful Significance of the ceremony
of bearing the body out at the front door and the
laying Of it on the ground with a candle at the
head and another at the feet; how the laying of
the body on the ground was emblematic of the
fact that we all from mother earth and to
her must return. no matter what difference
there was in our position in life, and how death
made us all equal. The speaker went on to
show that the significance of this was further
shown in the laying of the body on the ground
without the coverings of wealth, no matter how
high the position the Hebrew dead may have
held in life With Mr.. Beecher, who was most
emphatcally man OF the people, the plain and
simple service was specially appropriate, and
that that reference should be made of him.
Coming down to the speakers acquaintance with
Mr.. Beecher. DR.. Hall spoke affectionately of
the strong friendship that for years had existed
between them. He briefly alluded to how that
acquaintance was made in the old slavery days,
the circumstances of which are now matters of
history, and said that why Mr. Beecher had en-
tertained for him DR.. Hall such a
strong, answering and loyal attachment
be could not tell. He could tell
It was because OF his lnpd sincerity: his
noble mndedness; his love for all men; his sin
certify for friend in trouble, and his many
beautiful traits Of personal character that were
thAs~ Iao 1aa vtnIh .Nk hn~
loved and honored by all the world
The members of the family then retired to
other rooms, and Undertaken Hopper's assist
ants cane in and carried the casket down the
steps ard to the hearse, which stood in the rea,
of the Thirteenth Regiment. On the coffin was
laid pail OF bright green ferns, and with its
emerald hues intermingled the beautiful shades
of many varieties of The Plymouth
company which had led the van of the regiment
AS il approached the houge, formed eight ALI
front and followed the coffin to the and thor
took the position of guari of honor. AS tn,
coffin brought out Of the house, the bugl,
band of the regiment sounded a solemn dirge
AS soon the guard of honor had taken up 1T
position round the hearse, the regiment wa
formed into tweve-file front with arms reversed
The procession then moved slowly down Clarl
street until the hearse passed the front of tn
house. when the memb ers of the family who 8
desired got in the carriages in waiting an
brought up the rear, falling in lin
as the cortege moved on. The drum corp
drums. On arriving at the church the regimen
formed double file front to receive the body a
the Orange-street entrance, in front Of which tn
hearse drew up. The cssket was carried in tn
church up the henry street aisle and placed o,
the dais in front of the pulpit The pail wa
drawn back and the sliding top of tho casket wa
removed. exposing to view the face OF the dead
The guard of honor took up its position, an
then the regiment filed into the church in doubl
file front, marched up one aisle and passed i
front of the coffin, breaking ranks and passin
one file on each side and then down the othe
aisle to the street In the meantime Gen. Hors
ito G. King played, as the body was borne in tn
church, Beethoven's Burial March It is th
same march that was played at the great con
nosera funeral in 1923 There will be music